What is the Best Type of Massage for Athletes?

Incorporating sports massage therapy into an athlete’s fitness regime is essential to rejuvenate the body, enhance performance and even to accelerate recovery if needs be. A licensed massage therapist is a qualified, trained professional who knows exactly how much pressure to apply and what degree of pressure is required on joints and muscles to alleviate soreness and expedite muscle recuperation. There are several types of athletic massages techniques, some of which are listed below and all of which last for anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes.

Swedish Massage

One of the most common techniques, the Swedish massage is a gentle enough for amateur athletes who are new to the concept of massage or for people who are sensitive to pressure. However, this technique is effective enough to alleviate muscle strain and discharge muscle knots as well. As a full body massage, it is a blend of kneading, vibration and tapping, fluid strokes and soft joint movements. It is an excellent massage plan especially for runners in the lead up to competition as it helps them relax, relieves tension, subtle aches and pains, and boosts their energy. If you are in need of a soothing and at the same time strengthening massage get in touch with a licensed massage therapist because he or she will know just what degree pressure is required and where to apply it.

Deep tissue massage

A more vigorous massage, deep tissue massage employs stronger pressure techniques to alleviate acute muscle pain and loosen up muscle knots that are brought on by injuries and excessive stress. A licensed massage therapist uses a combination of slow strokes and firm pressure applied through the fingers and knuckles that target the deeper layers of tissue and muscles. Though this massage is more dynamic in its approach since it employs stronger pressure techniques, it is specifically designed to relieve pain and soreness.

Sports massage

Ideal for athletes who experience a recurring injury, a sports massage is a blend of various techniques that either target a specific area or can be applied across the full body. The blend of deep pressure and gentler strokes helps in relieving muscular stress, enhances blood circulation, and soothes aches and pains. Overall, this massage is a great way to accelerate the healing process and strengthens the muscles to diminish the risk of subsequent injury. In fact, it is so relaxing a technique that it actually assists in decreasing anxiety levels as well.

Trigger point massage

Often athletes experience a muscle knot or spasm or might have soreness in their muscle tissue. In these instances, a licensed massage therapist performs a trigger point massage that employs deep pressure movements that target the specific injury or strain. Many times injuries have a ripple effect and the pain travels to other parts of the body as well. So this type of massage seeks to target the source of the pain and the other places where the pain gets localized. It consists of a series of broad, fluid strokes coupled with firmer, deep pressure movements and is an excellent technique to treat acute pain.

According to the American Massage Therapy Association, is it vital for athletes to include a regular sports massage therapy into their routine because it advances their mental, physical and emotional overall well-being. 

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In Home or In Office Massages by Jacqueline in the Central Florida area. Certified for many different massages and treatments. Specializing in Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) post surgery recovery massage.

To schedule an appointment with Licensed Massage Therapist and Certified Advanced Manual Lymphatic Drainage Therapist, Jacqueline Bosco CMLDT, Oncology, please call (813) 298-5603.   We believe nothing is more important than human touch.

Providing massage services to patients in The Villages FL, Sumter County, Leesburg, Eustis, Mount Dora, Tavares, Lady Lake, Fruitland Park, Wildwood, Bushnell and surrounding areas in Florida.

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